Desire

by P. T. Michelle

  “You are truly amazing,” Ethan says, shaking his head. “Though I’d like you to wait and see what Drystan thinks about the Order before you present this idea to them.”

  “So you trust Drystan’s opinion now?”

  He snorts. “No, but I believe he wouldn’t let you be involved with something untrustworthy. And the fact that he’s not pro-Order right now works in his favor as far as I’m concerned.”

  When I start to question why he thinks I should wait, he holds up a finger. “Once Drystan gives a thumbs up about the Order and you decide to present this idea to them, you must insist that the potential breakthrough information only be provided to the Corvus manually, not electronically.”

  “Why not? Electronic is faster and more efficient.”

  “For the same reason we had to destroy the map; demons would love to find out where every Corvus lives. Any electronic information leaving the Order can be traced. My suggestion would be to add messenger duties to the Paladin’s current ones with the Corvus. I’m pretty sure the Paladins would agree. I doubt I’m wrong in assuming they’re honor bound to keep their Corvus’ locations secret.”

  “Ah, good point. I wouldn’t have thought of that part. Only a Corvus can think like a Corvus.”

  Ethan grins. “We’re definitely better together, Sunshine.”

  I smile back. “And now that you have an inside track into the Master Corvus’ mind, maybe together we can convince him who he really is and help him remember what happened.”

  “Actually, I think it’s going to be even harder to convince him now,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Why?”

  He slowly twists a strand of my hair around his finger. “Because, like me, he doesn’t want to let you go. He thinks he can protect you better than I can. I’m worried what he might do.”

  “He’s spirit. What can he do?”

  Ethan grips my waist and slides me closer to kiss my cheekbone. “While I still had amnesia I understood exactly what it felt like to walk around with power surging through me that I didn’t understand or know how to control,” he says in a low voice. “The Master Corvus is dangerous in his own invincibility. In his blind arrogance, he puts others at risk.”

  Ethan’s somber mood worries me. I turn and meet his gaze. “What has your Corvus done that you aren’t telling me?”

  “Nothing yet. It’s what he could do without knowing the extent of his strength and power that I care about.”

  I start to ask Ethan more about his relationship with the Corvus when my dad grabs the banister at the bottom of the stairs, then starts up the staircase at a brisk pace, an angry, determined look on his face.

  He stops halfway up the stairs when he sees us.

  “Merry Christmas, Dad. Where are you going in such a hurry?” I say, then take a sip of my coffee to keep from smiling. I knew he thought Ethan was upstairs with me and was racing to catch us together.

  “I uh…” He rubs his hand through his dark, messy bedhead hair. “I thought the bathroom was occupied downstairs.”

  I lean over to peer around him. “Nope, bathroom’s all clear. Oh, the pancake mix is in the far right cabinet when you’re ready to make them.”

  My dad looks from Ethan to me, then nods curtly and turns back down the stairs. When he shuts the bathroom door and we hear the faucet running, Ethan chuckles quietly.

  “What?” I look at him innocently.

  “You have a bit of a devilish streak.” Tapping the end of my nose, he leans close and whispers in my ear, sounding captivated, “An angel with horns. Now that’s hot. I love seeing this side of you.”

  Even though I grin, pleased by his comment, I feel like there’s something he hasn’t told me about his Corvus. I don’t like to think of Ethan and the powerful spirit inside him not getting along. The next chance I get, I’ll talk to the raven spirit about Ethan.

  An hour later, I pace by my front window and watch Ethan flinging snow with the shovel. After clearing a path for Houdini to do his business, he’s now digging his car out. According to the news, it had snowed four feet in twenty-four hours. A new record for Blue Ridge. I stop pacing and gnaw the inside of my cheek, wanting to help. Ethan refused to let me, saying I should stay inside where it was warm. Sometimes he takes the whole “Southern gentleman” thing to extremes.

  There’s just too much snow for one person. I grimace, hating that he’s out there by himself. Just as I move to grab my coat, my father says, “Come take your phone, Nari. It almost got swept into the trash with the egg carton.”

  Once I pick my phone up, Dad stops stirring the pancake batter and looks at me across the island. “I know something more is going on with that boy, Nara. Tell me what it is.”

  “Nothing, Dad.”

  My dad shakes his head. “That raven symbol means something. I’m not sure what, but something.”

  I curl my hand around my phone and mentally count to five so my voice sounds calm when I answer. “It really is a symbol of protection and good luck. Stop being so negative about Ethan. If you want to be a part of my life, I’d like you to try to accept him, because he’s here to stay. Nothing you can say or do will change that.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nara

  After taking Houdini out, I walk inside shivering at the brisk night air. Shrugging out of my coat, I hang it on the rack, glad that it had warmed up enough over the last few days to melt all the snow we’d gotten on Christmas Eve.

  Mom has been working like crazy this past week to tie up some loose ends at work. I didn’t say anything when she headed out during her “vacation time” this morning, calling behind her, “I’ll be late, sweetie.” I know what she’s doing. I learned my avoidance techniques from her.

  The day after Christmas, David called and made another excuse as to why he couldn’t come over. Since then, he hasn’t come by or called, which made it pretty clear to Mom that whatever they had was over. I’m sure she wonders if the reason he changed his mind about their relationship is because she invited my dad to dinner.

  I feel bad that I’m partially to blame for chasing my mom’s boyfriend off, but I console myself with the belief that if he could so easily dump my mom, then he’s not worth her time.

  Sighing, I give Houdini a dog biscuit, then pat him on the head. “It’s just you and me tonight, buddy. Want to watch a movie?”

  A text from my mom buzzes on my phone. When I check it, I see Ethan had sent me one while I was outside.

  Mom: I think I’m ready to see those videos your father left you. Tomorrow night? We’ll order pizza.

  I smile at her text. Dad never did give Mom the Christmas present he brought for her. Maybe he realized it was too soon, but he has stayed in touch. He’s been working out of Aunt Sage’s house, and last night he called to tell me he’ll be moving to Blue Ridge permanently in a couple weeks.

  Me: Sounds good. Don’t work too late.

  Mom: Unfortunately all the work I’ve created this week means I have to stay to finish it. Bleh. Off to get it done.

  I snicker, then read Ethan’s text.

  Ethan: Trying one more time with our parents. This restaurant is a hole in the wall that my Dad picked. He’s usually the caviar type. Samson’s skeptical. I’m either really hungry or pleasantly hopeful. What have you done to me?

  I laugh, happy that they’re trying again so soon.

  Me: I make you smile.

  Ethan: Always.

  Feeling all warm inside, I start to set my phone down when it rings. I quickly answer it, smiling. “Hey Gran. Are you glad to be back in your own place now?”

  “Hello, Inara, dear. I think you should come over. I need an intervention. I’m about to kill Clara.”

  Chuckling, I sit on the stool and tuck the phone between my shoulder and ear while I untie my shoe, then toe it off. “What new rivalry is going on between you two now? It’s probably something I can handle over the phone with you.”

  “You’re not hearing me, Nara. I
need you to come now.”

  I freeze in toeing off my other shoe. Gran has never called me Nara. Nor has she ever spoken to me that way.

  “Is everything okay, Gran? I mean really okay?”

  “I want that book.” Gran’s voice had changed, sounding harsher. My face prickles as the demon continues, “You need to bring me the book or I’m going to kill the old woman. You have twenty minutes. Better hurry. The clock is ticking.”

  The demon hangs up, cutting off my chance to threaten him if anything happens to Gran.

  My hands are shaking so bad, it takes me three tries to finally hit the button to dial Ethan’s number. While it rings, I clamp my lips shut to keep from panting and jam my foot back into my tennis shoe.

  “Nara?”

  “I know you can’t talk. Just listen,” I gush out. “Harper’s Inferi has Gran. I have to be there in less than twenty minutes. He wants the book, so I need you to move it and hide it—”

  “Nara—”

  “Don’t tell me where,” I cut him off and yank my coat from the rack. “That way I won’t be lying when I tell him where it is.”

  “Don’t you dare go alone. Wait for me!”

  “This is my Gran, Ethan,” I say, tears filling my eyes. I grab my keys and head for the door. “It’ll take me the full twenty minutes to get there. I can’t wait. I have to save her if I can.”

  I hang up on him before he can say anything else and rush out the door.

  My tires screech as I barrel into Westminster’s parking lot in a record seventeen minutes. I don’t even bother with the front desk. I quickly bypass it and head for the bathroom right off the lobby instead. I wait anxiously for the shuffling group of retirees to finally make their way toward the elevators, and then I slip out of the bathroom and blend in with the crowd.

  I knock once on Gran’s door. When Gran’s sweet voice calls, “Come in, Nara,” behind the wood, my stomach churns with nausea. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, take a deep breath, then open the door.

  The second I walk in, my heart jerks. Gran is standing to the left of the couch, rocking on her heels, a satisfied smile on her face. Clara’s laying down with her eyes closed, fully stretched out on the sofa. The whole set up looks very wrong. I rush toward the sofa and fall to my knees beside Clara, hoping to see her chest rising and falling. When I don’t detect anything, my heart jerks. Maybe she’s in a deep sleep. God, please let that be the case.

  “I got here in the time frame you gave me. What happened? Did you knock her out?” I ask calmly, while I’m freaking out on the inside.

  Gran waves toward Clara like she’s a piece of trash not worth her time. “She got on my nerves, so I killed her.”

  I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I’m just so devastated that an old woman’s life is worth so little to this vile creature.

  “What?” Gran shrugs at my look of horror. “I had to hitch a ride on the Clara train to get Gran to take off her broach, but then Clara freaked out once I hopped off. Her squawking did me in. Be glad I smothered her. I really wanted to rip her throat out.” Her eyes narrow on my empty hands. “Where’s the book?”

  I stand on shaky legs and move closer to Gran, addressing the demon inside her. “It’s somewhere safe.”

  Gran takes a step back, wary. “I told you to bring it here,” the demon hisses.

  I jerk my chin up. “And I need a guarantee that you won’t kill my Gran once I tell you where it is.”

  “Do you really think I’m falling for that again?” the demon says, snorting.

  My balled fists shake by my side, but I speak with conviction. “I was there when you double-crossed Danielle. And you killed Clara despite me meeting the deadline you gave me, yet you’re calling me untrustworthy?”

  Annoyance crosses Gran’s face. “It took me a while. Lots of time and patience watching from a distance and waiting for just the right incentive. Then sweet old Gran shows up for Christmas. I can tell how much this old bat means to you.” The demon snaps Gran’s dentures twice, then taunts, “I can’t believe you’re going to let her die.”

  “No!” I rush up to Gran and press my hand to her chest, yelling, “Get out. Get the hell out of her!”

  My body shudders and my chest feels tight like it did with David, but the demon in Gran only shakes her gray head, groggy for a second. Shoving me off Gran, he says, “What are you doing? Do you think you can expel me from her?”

  Before I can respond, he sneers at me and grabs Gran’s left hand, jerking it downward. The sound of snapping bone makes my stomach heave.

  Swallowing my nausea, I step forward, hand raised, my chest aching. “No, please, no!” I beg the demon. “I would never risk Gran. The book is buried in the Oak Lawn Cemetery graveyard on the right side of Frederick Holtzman’s gravestone.”

  The demon rolls Gran’s head from one shoulder to another, then reaches for Gran’s left forearm. Leveling hateful eyes on me, he says, “You’d better not be lying or I’ll yank her whole arm off next.”

  My heart jerks when he lifts Gran’s frail arm and her hand dangles limply. “I promise!” I sob. “That’s where I buried it. I’m not lying.”

  “Better move fast.” Gran lets out an evil laugh, then her head lolls back and her body starts to fall.

  I catch Gran before she hits the floor, but my shaking legs won’t hold us, and we slowly sink to the floor together. Gran starts to moan, then quake all over. I’m so terrified for her, I just hold her close. I don’t know what else to do.

  “Nara!” Ethan opens the door at the same time my Gran goes very still.

  “Help me, Ethan. She’s not…oh, God…she’s barely breathing!”

  Before he can take two steps into the room, my father walks through the doorway behind him, police and paramedics in tow.

  Pandemonium ensues around me. Police asking questions. My father taking control of everything. I feel like I’m dreaming while the paramedics work on Gran, trying to get her vitals leveled out.

  Ethan had moved to the doorway, staying out of the way. I glance at him a couple of times, but I don’t really see him. I’m just so worried about Gran. They keep taking her pulse and calling out numbers that sound incredibly low, worried looks on their faces.

  I know they’re doing everything they can, but I still just want to scream, “Help her!”

  Ethan

  My heart aches as I watch Nara sitting with her legs tucked under her on the floor next to her great aunt. She’s trembling and looks so pale. I tried to go to her, but her father showed up with the paramedics and police, and they pretty much pushed me out of her Gran’s apartment. So I hover in the doorway, hoping Nara will look my way again and see my sympathy and regret for what’s happened.

  All because of me. Of the secret she was trying to protect.

  But she doesn’t look my way, not really. I wait. I’m patient. I want her to know I’m here.

  Her father steps in front of me, blocking Nara from my line of sight. “I think you should go. You’ve done enough.”

  “Excuse me, sir?”

  He looks behind him at the policeman who’s walking over to talk to Nara and shoves something in my hand. “I found this jammed in that dead woman’s chest.”

  As I glance down at the Corvus broach I’d given Nara to give to her Gran, her father’s voice moves closer and he grates in my ear, “I don’t know what kind of dangerous shit you’re part of, but I don’t want my daughter mixed up in it. Take that with you. I know it’s yours, and I don’t want it traced back to Inara.”

  When he straightens, worry rages, but I remain calm. “Traced back? I don’t understand.”

  His gaze slits and he pulls me out into the hall away from the door. “I knew something was off with you, so when I couldn’t find that raven symbol anywhere on the web, I used my contacts and went to the police station to look through their database of gang related symbols and tattoos. The last thing I expected was to run across this same raven symbol listed in a recent
unsolved murder.”

  I frown and shake my head. “What murder? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Someone had tagged the cement with that symbol not far from where they found the drowned body of a teenage girl named Harper Dabney. The police also found demon worship stuff at her house, so they think her death was some kind of sacrifice. The girl went to your school. Does the name Harper ring any bells?”

  Shit, Harper. The demon that killed Harper must’ve left the symbol behind out of spite. I don’t let the recognition show on my face. “No, it doesn’t. I don’t know anything about a murder. That symbol is one for protection, not demon worshiping, sir.”

  Mr. Collins shakes his head in a fast jerk. He doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “I don’t know what Inferi are—” he pauses when my gaze hardens. I know Nara never told him the name Inferi.

  Her father folds his arms, a stubborn look on his face. “Once I saw the partial sword tattoo on your back, I cloned Nara’s phone. I heard her conversation with you earlier. That’s how the police, ambulance, and I got here when you did. It’s also how I know Corda’s life was threatened over some damned book.”

  I’m amazed at how calm I’m remaining in the face of her father’s fury. I can feel the Corvus in me pacing and seething. “I’d like to speak to Nara when she’s able to talk.”

  “Do you want Inara to be next?” Brackets of anger form around his mouth, his tone low but furious. “I want you to stay the hell away from my daughter. Don’t make me file a restraining order. You know I’ve got the connections to make it stick.”

  Her father turns away and walks back into the room to talk to the police. I move to the doorway and scan over the paramedics still working on her great aunt, and then to Nara, who looks like she’s about to collapse as she watches the medical team buzzing all around.